Literary Friday ya’ll…..

I know. I know. I KNOW. It’s Sunday. Don’t worry, T is not confused about the day of the week. But I did not get to mention #literaryfriday on Friday because…..Little Baby Owl and I were spending the day together- and she only takes kindly to technology when it’s being used to take pictures & Tweet about visiting her- Baby Owl ain’t got no time for blogging.

So, I’m going to catch ya’ll up on some #literaryfriday with 2 mentions from Deep South Magazine since I missed the week before #literaryfriday because I was in Granbury, TX (more on that later and probably a pic of my fetch hat. And yes, I use the word fetch (“Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen. It’s not going to happen!”) Continue reading →

Futuristic Friday: What Books Are You Looking Forward To Reading?

Hello and welcome all to the first Futuristic Friday hosted by Traveling With T and Katie from Doing Dewey. I’m pretty excited to unveil this new jointly hosted feature (and I hope you are excited to read and see what it is all about!)

What is Futuristic Friday?

Back in 2013, I was thinking about starting a new feature. I toyed around with the idea of a Throwback Thursday- but was unsure that I could maintain that on a semi-regular basis. I also wanted a partner- someone I could trust to help me with the feature, someone who could be a good bloggy person to chat with, perhaps someone who was the yang to my yin. I started thinking about all the bloggy people I interact with and Katie kept popping in my head- she’s got a broad reading taste, I knew her from She Reads, and I enjoyed talking with her. And days later, Futuristic Friday was born!

January Selections:

Doing Dewey’s Futuristic Friday Picks for January

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Katie from Doing Dewey thought these books looked good to her for January:

The Rise of the Tudors, The Last Enchantments, Me, Myself and Why, Cruel Beauty, and Company Man

Traveling With T’s Futuristic Friday January Picks

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Traveling With T (me!) thought these books looked good for January:

The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress, What Nora Knew, The Secret of Magic, This Dark Road to Mercy, and In the Blood. Continue reading →

Guest Post: Allison from The Book Wheel reveals her 2014 Resolutions

Today, I have Allison from The Book Wheel guest posting about her New Year Resolutions. Allison is a great blogger- always on the cutting edge and she runs her blog like an efficient business. I could just sit and listen to Miss A talk for hours about her plans!

Read on for her New Year Resolutions (maybe you’ll be inspired- I was!)

Allison at The Book Wheel- New Year Resolutions

Hi Travelers! My name is Allison and I blog over at The Book Wheel about books, politics, and other shenanigans. I’m so excited that Tamara has asked me over to share with you my New Year’s Resolutions. This year is the first time “get healthier” and “lose weight” isn’t on my list because, frankly, I never follow through with them. And if I do, it’s by accident and not because of any direct efforts on my part. Plus, I already gave up soda! So, this year my resolutions are as follow:

Read more award winning books. This isn’t an official challenge or anything, but I find that I often miss out on the award winners because I’m bogged down with other books I need to read. This year, I’m going to try to read the nominees before the winners are announced and, if I miss one or two, read them once they do win.
Take less author requests. I know, I know. This one sounds so callous. But I get roughly 5-10 author requests per day and, as much as I’d like to read them all, I simply can’t. This past year I learned that saying yes to everyone also means that I rarely have time to read the books already on my shelf, like the award winners.
Spend less time online by focusing on the task at hand. This is going to be hard because I run a website, but I really need to streamline my online time. I have a bad habit of blogging while watching television, which then takes 10x longer, and I can easily waste a day on something that should have taken me an hour. That wasted times mean less time for studying, hanging with my husband, and reading.
Put down the iPhone when I’m at home. This one goes hand-in-hand with my previous resolution. I also have a nasty habit of keeping my phone on and near my at all times and it needs to stop. When I’m spending time with my husband (even if it’s just watching TV), I am going to put my phone on silent and in the other room. Maybe I’ll get a home phone for emergencies, but I really need to stop relying on my phone when I already have an iPad and MacBook. I’m *considering* removing my social media apps from my phone, but that sounds so scary!

Did you pick up any resolution ideas from Allison? I hope so! Tell me in the comments if you did!

Guest Post: Alison Law talks how 2014 is the year to be “Imperfect”

Alison Law is a force to be reckoned with. Alison is a marketing genius. Smart as a whip- and kind! Alison, besides being you know busy with school, Alison Law Communications, and other things- also finds time to be a member of She Reads (where she lovingly made a master list of She Reads bloggers for Twitter- there is that marketing mind!) I asked Alison if she had time to write a guest post- and she agreed. And her post, about permission to be imperfect, is honest and heartwarming.

Alison Law resolves to be Imperfect in 2014

This Year I Resolve to be Imperfect

I am an achievement and self-improvement junkie, so the approach of a New Year sends my already-active brain into overdrive. As I write this—on December 31—my dining room table has become a cluttered command center of “let’s do everything bigger and better in 2014!” Business and personal finance books, goals worksheets and planning materials intermingle with new health insurance cards and New Year’s greeting cards. I hover on the cusp of greatness and I love it.

I can ignore my crime scene of an office and chores today because I’ll be reborn as a meticulous cleaning machine in less than 12 hours. I can eat these Totino’s pizza rolls (with real pepperoni seasoning!), corn chips and French onion dip until I pop today, because when that smartphone strikes midnight, a virtuous and health-conscious Alison will take the keys from me, and my calorie record will be expunged.

The reason that we stay up way past our bedtimes, wearing cardboard party hats and tiaras that leave glitter rashes on our foreheads, is that we (the collective pronoun) love change within our control. We’re in love with the idea of a clean slate, a fresh start and all the other clichés for tidy beginnings. Possibility is intoxicating. Potential is out there, just waiting for us to sidle up next to it and give it a scratch behind the ear.

That’s why I wasn’t a bit surprised to learn in this New York Times article that human beings get a bigger jolt of happiness from planning their vacations than actually going on the trips. Anticipation is a lusty bedfellow to the inner control freak who thinks she can plan everything terrific that can possibly happen in the next twelve months until it’s impossible for the mundane or bad stuff to coexist. This myth appeals to every part of my borderline-OCD personality, but it is just a horrible lie. Because if there’s anything I’ve learned (earned) in my almost 40 years of living on this planet, it’s this: when you resolve to be perfect—at cleaning, eating, exercising, etc.—you’re setting yourself up for utter failure.

Therefore, in terms of resolutions, I’m going to relish the reading and planning that always accompanies my greeting a New Year; I always learn a lot and appreciate those embers that keep my intellectual fires stoked. 2013 was a wonderful year in a lot of ways, but it had its painful moments, too. Enough moments to remind me that I need to leave room in my crazy life for the unexpected crazy. No planning can defeat the uninvited crazy, so I’m just going to make up the guest room and put out the nice towels for it. There’s still plenty of room for dreams and goals, but my aspirations have a better shot when I evict perfectionism and let the unplanned have run of the house.

If you liked Alison’s post, here is bio, here is Alison Law Communications, and Alison’s other website, Southern Spines (which is a treat to read!)

Guest Post: Erin Bass from Deep South Magazine shares her resolutions & learns the power of “no”

Erin Bass. Southern Lit. Supporter of blogs. Amazing writer. Smart and savvy. Erin’s mind is always ticking away- and her features on Deep South Magazine are incredible. She has her finger on the pulse of Southern Lit.

A tweet from Erin while I was at my first Sweet Potato Queen weekend back in 2011 started our friendship- and it has grown beyond just a Twitter friendship. I trust Erin with my thoughts about blogging and books and more.

Erin Bass of Deep South Magazine talks about saying “no”

“Saying No in 2014”

I’ve been thinking a lot this past year about resolutions and changes I’d like to make in 2014. I know, why wait until the end of the year to try and do better when I could have been making changes all along? Because some of us (me) need that extra push and the excuse of a holiday to get motivated. As I get older, I find it helps to spend time reflecting on the past year and setting goals for things I want to accomplish in the future. Resolutions in my thirties have become about getting things done (but not just for the sake of crossing them off a list), having no regrets and living life to the fullest.

Since an online magazine doesn’t run itself, work is always a priority. I’m thankful that my work is something I enjoy, but I’m always trying to improve. In 2014, I want to be more focused on what I’d like to accomplish for Deep South. It’s easy to get sidetracked by the vast amount of emails, story pitches and ideas we receive. Again, I’m thankful that readers are enthusiastic enough to send an email and make suggestions for stories, but we can’t accept all of them. I need to really consider what fits with our mission and what will help us grow in the coming year.

Accomplishing this and sticking with it will take some forethought and planning, something I’m spending the first week of January doing. As most Southerners know — especially Southern women — it’s hard to say “no.” We are people pleasers and were raised to be polite and agreeable. The word “no” isn’t really in our vocabulary, and it’s difficult for me to risk disappointing someone by saying it. Heck, it was difficult just to turn on my “out of office” the week of New Year’s, but I needed some time to regroup.

What I’ve been conscious of this past year is that by saying “yes” all the time, I’ve become overcommitted and not able to enjoy anything. While doing one of the many things I’ve said yes to, I’m thinking about my next commitment and how many tasks are still left undone. I’m not present in the moment, and I’m resentful toward the person I’ve said yes to. The only person to blame for this is myself.

So, in 2014 — as gracefully and politely as possible — I will be saying no a lot more. No, I can’t bring a dish to yet another dinner or even attend said dinner. No, I won’t be able to attend that charity function, luncheon or networking event. Instead, I’m going to spend time doing things that are meaningful to me and actually enjoy them while I’m doing them.

I’ll take time to finish that short story I started at the beginning of last year and maybe even write another one. I’ll enjoy lunch with an old friend and not be thinking about getting to my next commitment. I’ll crack open that book that just arrived in the mail and take an hour to curl up and read on the couch without the distraction of an email or text. If I do attend that dinner, it will be because I want to and I’ll enjoy the company while I’m there.

It’s hard to not feel selfish about this resolution, but I’ve come to realize that saying no is about extending some of that “yes” to ourselves. I realize that I don’t need to tell myself yes every time I want another piece of chocolate or glass of wine, but I do need to give myself permission to slow down and put work aside sometimes. Often, like in the case of a good book or developing a friendship with someone I’ve interviewed or met through Twitter, work and pleasure intermingle. It’s in these moments that I truly enjoy my life and work.

Hopefully saying no to those empty obligations and yes to those moments that really enrich my life will make 2014 an even better year for myself and Deep South.

If you don’t read Deep South Magazine– check it out!

Bloggers Made of AWESOME: Lisa @ Books in the Burbs

Lisa and I are relatively new Twitter buddies. We started chatting some in 2013, talking about blogger things, why our Netgalley approval rating wasn’t at 80%, and more. Lisa is fun and charming- and her blog is cute as a button.

Bloggers Made of AWESOME: Lisa @ Books in the Burbs

Lisa- when did you begin blogging?

I started blogging in December, 2010. It’s hard to believe that I have been blogging over 3 years!!

How did you come up with the name Books in the Burbs?

I wanted a name that reflected who I was and what the blog was about. Living in the suburbs means different things for people, but for me, as a woman-it means to me: married, busy mom, kids, driving kids to their activities, minivan, dogs, etc. So, I thought it was a good word to use. I love books, so I started playing with it, and it evolved into: Books in the Burbs.

What are your thoughts on blogging today in an ever-changing book-ish world? Are blogs helping other readers connect with good books?

In the 3 years that I’ve been blogging, I have noticed a huge change in the world of books!! Before, to read a review about a book, readers were limited to print reviews in magazines. However, with the internet, readers have turned to everyday people, who blog their opinions on books read. Bloggers don’t have to be politically correct or cautious about what they write, because their job isn’t at stake over a bad review. There is a high level of trust between bloggers and their readers, and the reading world is taking notice.

Bloggers have the opportunity to connect authors with readers, without having to travel anywhere. Authors and readers can connect via Twitter parties, FB chats, interviews, and guest spots. It’s a fantastic way for authors and readers to connect in ways that weren’t always possible before blogging.

When you are not blogging (or reading!)- what do you like to do?

I usually have non-reading time when my daughter is at school, so this gives me an opportunity to meet up with friends for lunch, shopping, and getting manicures/pedicures (which I love!). It’s also my time to connect with close friends and family, because I find that human connection is so important to me! I think my kids would agree, as they get snuggle attacks when they get home from school!

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

What?!? You haven’t read Pride & Prejudice???? I LOVE that book!!! I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, so that’s a book that is a must read for everyone! LOL! My literary confession would be that I haven’t read any Harry Potter books, even though people rave about the books. I don’t have any desire or interest in them, so it’s not a series I have even considered reading.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Mr. Darcy, of course! He’s the romantic character that charms Ms. Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice. See…you have to read the book! 😉

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2014?

Oh, there are so many great books that are continuously being released. I love Sarah Jio’s writing and am looking forward to her book, Goodnight June. I’m also a huge fan of Julie Klassen and can’t wait to read: The Dancing Master. There are a few more, so I’m really excited about 2014!

In your opinion, what book has been the best book you have read in 2013?

Oh, that is sooo hard!! Because of the different genres I read, it’s hard to just pick one. The first one that comes to mind is: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. It’s not very often that I carry a book with me to the dinner table, but with that one, I just couldn’t put it down. Then, after I finished the book, I had to reread the last couple of chapters!! It was a storyline that stayed with me for days!

You have a beach vacation planned. What are the 3 books that you must bring?

1. Definitely the Holy Bible-NLT version. I don’t know why, but I always carry it with me on vacation. Opening it up and reading verses just lets me know I’m not alone and His peace covers me.

2. Anything Jane Austen. She’s my go to author and I love reading her books when I’m in a reading slump.

3. Anything that I’m needing to write a book review for that month! LOL! I’ve got to keep my reading up, even when I’m on vacation! 😉

Are you an e-book or tree book lover? Or does it not matter?

I’m definitely an e-book lover! I love the Nook Glowlight and Kindle Paperwhite because the backlight is not as harsh as the ipad. AND-the charge holds for a very long time. With the amount of reading I do, I have to charge about every 10-12 days. I do love paperbacks, but I find that when I’m reading them, more people will stop me to ask what I’m reading than when I’m reading an e-book. Because that’s a pet peeve of mine-to be interrupted while reading-I definitely like the privacy an e-reader provides. However, the biggest reason I love e-books is because I know I’m a book hoarder and having everything on an e-reader hides that secret!

You are a member of She Reads- an organization that helps women find great books. What is the experience like- helping authors get the word out about books and connecting women with great books?

I love being a member of She Reads. I was hugely honored to have been asked to join the team, and just feel like I’m a part of a really awesome woman’s club. Everyone is so friendly and helpful, and the books we get to read are a-m-a-z-i-n-g! I love how a book of the month will get so much publicity that the Twitter and Facebook feeds blow up with that particular book and author!! It’s a great opportunity for authors to garner a lot of exposure and for them to have reviews on so many fantastic blogs.

What is a book that you LOVED that did not get great reviews?

I had to look through my Goodreads book list to see how each book was rated overall. One that was quite dramatic of a rating: Between You & Me by Emma McLaughlin. I gave the book a 5 star rating, but the overall rating is a 2.87!! It’s a huge variation and I’m not sure why it didn’t get the positive recognition it deserves!

Do you have advice for book bloggers who are just starting their blogs?

1. Don’t hold back-create your blog!! Look at other blogs, read them, and from there-figure out your style. Otherwise, you will be overwhelmed if you wait and see and how you want to format your blog. It will change anyway, as you streamline your blog, so getting started is the hardest part!

2. Buy your domain name!! Nothing is more of a bummer than when you choose a blog name, only to see that someone else already has it.

3. Reach out to other bloggers and network with them. Book bloggers are so helpful, resourceful, and extremely supportive. We all love books and love sharing what we know. So, reach out and don’t be alone!

Want to connect with Lisa? Visit her blog, Facebook and Twitter!

**Editor’s note: Not reading Pride and Prejudice has been a previous #literaryconfession of mine from 2012. I did read it and enjoyed it!

Tuesday Mashup

Tuesday Mashup- giveaways, crafty stuff, getting ready for a Super Bowl Party, and other bookish delights!

Bloggy Talk

Mommy Mentionables has the info on how to make ad CLICKABLE social media icons to your website banner (and I must say that this is such a good idea!)

Books Speak Volumes is still hosting Jazz Age January (#JazzAgeJanuary). Still plenty of time to read a book about the roaring 20’s (I strongly suggest The Other Typist!)

Love at First Book is hosting her weekly Linky Love Party & Doing Dewey is her co-host! Link up & join the party!

Crafty, Crafty, Crafty

Mommy Mentionables is telling all about “For My Honey” Oatmeal and Honey Sugar Scrub. She talks about how easy it is to make & what a great gift it is!

A Little Claireification shows us how to organize crafty supplies (and makes us laugh about a moment of “This is IT” she had in Home Depot)

The Thinking Closet (love her!) has another great post- Berrylicious Heart-Shaped Ice Cubes. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or just to jazz up a regular day, a regular drink! Continue reading →

Guest Post: Laurel Osterkamp discusses how jury duty inspired The Holdout (CLP Blog Tours)

Photo Credit: CLP

Traveling With T is a stop on The Holdout by Laurel Osterkamp blog tour sponsored by Chick Lit Plus. This tour consists of excerpts, guest posts and reviews- to see what other bloggers are saying about The Holdout (or to read an excerpt), please visit Chick Lit Plus‘s tour page.

Laurel Osterkamp Guest Post

I really wanted jury duty.

For one, I would get out of teaching for a week or two. It was close to the end of the school year and my seniors were super squirrely. But there was more to it than just that. I’ve seen my fair share of legal dramas, and I thought it would be cool to sit in that box and decide the outcome of a court case. So when I got my summons I felt like I’d been awarded something cool.

But that was nothing compared to actually getting picked. The lawyers interviewed us, not individually, but as a group. And we all had to state where we were from, our marital status, age, and profession. I was one of two people who wasn’t a native Minnesotan, and the other guy couldn’t speak English. I believe that for that reason, the defense wanted me. It was a court case between a famous and successful Minnesotan businessman and a Turkish boating company. Of course the defense would want someone, anyone, who was from out of town. That person was me.

And like Robin in The Holdout, I did become one of two people who spoke up for the defense during deliberations. Actually, there are a lot of similarities between my jury experience and Robin’s. More similarities include:

· The jurors. I made their personalities a little more extreme in the book, especially in Four’s case. Hopefully the real-life Four will never read The Holdout, because she’ll probably hate me if she does. But other than that, I borrowed a lot from real-life.

· The case. It was actually about yachts, and I learned a lot about cold-molding epoxy, which is a method of boat construction.

· The routine. We did get prox-cards, which were keys to our very own jury room. We did get treats all the time, and we also took stretching breaks and had our own screens in front of our own cushy chairs. But my favorite part was that the bailiff always said, “All rise for the jury” every time we entered the room.

· The deliberations. It was basically ten to two in the end, and the guy who agreed with me was the foreman of the jury. He was also worthless. I also wound up arguing with the juror who inspired Nick/Ten but it was also him who I respected the most out of all the jurors.

· The verdict. But you’ll have to read The Holdout to find out more about that.

· The best part was walking away at the end. Knowing that I’d be able to walk away made me more willing to speak out than I’d ever been before.

· Nick/Ten really had been on three juries in two years – one county, one state, and one federal. So if you think that’s not possible, think again!

But there were differences too:

· There was no romance. There were some single twenty-somethings on the jury, but I never picked up on any sort of spark between them.

· There was no real-life handsome bad-boy who inspired Silas Smythe. Too bad. The trial would have been more interesting if he had been around.

· I did eventually learn most of the juror’s names.

In the end, jury duty was a great experience, if for no other reason that it inspired The Holdout. I recommend it even for people who aren’t geeks like me. You’ll learn a lot, and in the end, you’ll have an interesting story to tell.

Want to buy The Holdout? Visit Amazon!

Photo Credit: CLP

Laurel Osterkamp’s award winning novels have been hailed as funny, intelligent, snarky and poignant. She is the author of four novels and two novellas, including the November Surprise series, which, like The Holdout, features the Bricker family. Laurel was recently on a federal jury, and she loves watching Survivor.

Want to connect with Laurel? Visit Twitter, website, Goodreads or blog!

Audio Books- Yay or Nay?

Oh my.. I have a bit of a confession. A small secret. A thing that I rarely tell anyone.

I really don’t care for audio books.

Wait.. Maybe I should rephrase… I have not cared for the audio books I’ve tried in the past. The characters do not sound right. I can’t get involved in the story, sucked in like normal. I feel like a fish out of water, like a college party night without alcohol. I feel yuck.

Here’s the thing: When I read a book- the character has a voice, the voice that I give them in my head. And, no disrespect to audio books- but the voice I give the character sounds better than the audio version. Now granted, there are times that I may not know what the characters are supposed to sound like- but I prefer the voice I give them.

But I keep reading tweets and reviews from people talking about audio books & I have to say that I’m intrigued at times. Not enough to pay the full price for the audio. Not enough to get an Audible subscription. But…. somewhat. And I feel that sometimes I’m missing out.

Enter Gone Girl. 2012, I bought Gone Girl on Kindle (and then 1 day bought it on sale in hardcover because I freaking loved that book). Buying it on Kindle gave me a much lower price for the Audible version. Still I resisted. I mean how many ways can you own Gone Girl (even though it was a fan-freaking-tastic book)? I finally gave in a few weeks ago. I bought the audible version for 4.99. And I’m enjoying the heck out of it. Do I love it because I already love the book? Maybe. Do I love it because I love the voice of Amy- a character I was never quite sure I was giving an adequate voice to? Perhaps. Is the audio just that good? Possible.

Now am I about to jump on the audio bandwagon? Not quite yet. One time does not make a fan for life. But, I am more intrigued. And open to giving them another fair shake.

So tell me- are you an audio fan or not? And if you are- what are some of the “must try” books in your opinion?

Guest Post: Wendi Wachtel writes about the letter she writes to herself

Today Wendi Wachtel from H2O Bungalow stops by to discuss her New Year Resolutions- and I have to say, after reading this, I would like to start doing this!

Guest Post by Wendi Wachtel

Hi I’m Wendi from H2OBungalow where I blog about DIY home projects in a 1950’s small waterside bungalow..

I was so honored when Tamara sent me an email and asked me to take part in her assembly of New Years posts. I thought it would be fun to share our New Years Eve tradition. I stopped making New Years resolutions a long time ago. I felt like I put half-baked effort into coming up with resolutions. A few weeks later they’d be completely forgotten…to me, it seemed a complete waste of time and energy.

A few years ago my sister, Sherri shared a special and different New Years Eve tradition that she follows. We had a fun group over for New Years Eve. We were all sitting around the fireplace, having a great time and waiting for the countdown. When we had about an hour to go, Sherri announced we were going to do something to get ready for the New Year.

She handed everyone a blank envelope along with a piece of writing paper and a pen and told us all to write a letter to ourselves. Not just a letter, but one that listed how we want the New Year to be different. What we want, how we see ourselves, what changes we want to make, basically what traits we want to keep and what traits we want to let go. She said to keep it simple.

The room went silent for a while we were all contemplating and writing. Our group was a fun, bordering on rowdy bunch and it was funny to see everyone focus on the task at hand. We were instructed to seal our letters in the envelopes when we finished writing. My sister waited until the last letter was tucked away and the envelope sealed. She then instructed us all to address the letter…to ourselves and then give it to her.

As she collected the letters she told us she would hold onto them for 6 months. We’d be getting our personal notes back at the midway point in the year. True enough, mine arrived mid-June. I let When it arrived, I let it sit on my dresser, leaning against the mirror for a while before I opened it. I took that time to think about everything I wrote, how life was different from the changes I made and even where I fell short in the areas I wanted to improve.

It was 2012 and the year we dramatically changed our life and lifestyle when we moved to our Fl. waterside bungalow. I think this was the first time I’ve ever reflected back on a New Years resolution, promise or whatever you’d like to call it. To me, our New Years Eve letter was so much more powerful than a midnight promise after copious amounts of champagne. Since then, we’ve adopted this practice as our own New Years eve tradition. I’d like to call it my non-resolution tradition.

Thank you, Wendi, for guest posting!